Ran over a dog today.....
Discussion
Driving through a village this morning, just bimbling along, when a black shape appears in my peripheral vision on the left, moving quickly from a gap in the hedge straight over the pavement and into the road, and before I can do anything except shout 'whoah!' and jink right, it's under the wheels. Big thump, so I pull in up ahead and run back to find a bloke cradling a beautiful young black springer which clearly has a broken leg and blood in its mouth, still conscious and yelping, but equally clearly in a bad way.
What do you do? I feel dreadful about it, but apart from apologising profusely (which I did) and offering to drive him to a vet (which he didn't need as his car was right there), I was at a loss. I feel like going back to check whether the dog survived, but I'm not sure that it's the right thing to do, and I don't know what I'd say if it hasn't. Three malts haven't provided the answer yet.
Anyone been in this situation, on either side of it, and have some perspective?
What do you do? I feel dreadful about it, but apart from apologising profusely (which I did) and offering to drive him to a vet (which he didn't need as his car was right there), I was at a loss. I feel like going back to check whether the dog survived, but I'm not sure that it's the right thing to do, and I don't know what I'd say if it hasn't. Three malts haven't provided the answer yet.
Anyone been in this situation, on either side of it, and have some perspective?
It's horrible I know.
But it's not your fault.
Just let it go and move on, if the dog has died you'll probably be met with anger and those sorts of situations help neither party and can be dangerous so just don't do it.
Just remember it's not your fault and whilst it's sad it was unavoidable.
But it's not your fault.
Just let it go and move on, if the dog has died you'll probably be met with anger and those sorts of situations help neither party and can be dangerous so just don't do it.
Just remember it's not your fault and whilst it's sad it was unavoidable.
Similar thing happened to me not so long ago. Driving through a village a dog ran a couple of feet into the road, it was on one of those retractable leads. Didn't think it was going to go anymore as the owner seemed to have stopped it, went to swerve around it and the bloody thing ran out again. 'Donk' - not a nice sound and I thought I'd hit it head on.
Pulled up further up the road and ran back to see the chap and his dog. He said the dog had ran into the side of the car and bounced off, seemed quite happy and I apoligised but felt really bad about it all.
At the end of the day it wasn't my fault and it certainly doesn't sound like yours either. Nothing you can do now but wish it a speedy recovery.
Not a nice situation to be involved in especially if you're a pet lover but as I said - not your fault.
Pulled up further up the road and ran back to see the chap and his dog. He said the dog had ran into the side of the car and bounced off, seemed quite happy and I apoligised but felt really bad about it all.
At the end of the day it wasn't my fault and it certainly doesn't sound like yours either. Nothing you can do now but wish it a speedy recovery.
Not a nice situation to be involved in especially if you're a pet lover but as I said - not your fault.
Once upon a time i was lifting along and just as i browed the crest of a hill i smashed into a rotwieller he flew up and hit the screen (it was at night and raining) and blood was everywhere. I was convinced i hit someone. Took me an age to get out of the car with blood being smeered by the wipers. Eventually got out and saw it was a dog. I then decide the best thing to do is move it incase someone came along and i got hold of a hind leg, gingerly incase it was still alive. A couple of gentle ish tugs wouldn't move it so i pulled sharply, the leg came out in my hand! Eventually another driver came along and we moved it. Then looked at the front of the car... The garage wrote it off.
4nonymous said:
I ran over a cat once
Was so sad as I just cleaned my car the day before and had to clean out all the meat from under the car 
Very rare that I think one word sums someone up. In your case, I'll make an exception.
Was so sad as I just cleaned my car the day before and had to clean out all the meat from under the car 
P***k.
To the OP, I feel sorry for you, I'd be devastated in your shoes.
Jasandjules said:
4nonymous said:
I ran over a cat once
Was so sad as I just cleaned my car the day before and had to clean out all the meat from under the car 
Very rare that I think one word sums someone up. In your case, I'll make an exception.
Was so sad as I just cleaned my car the day before and had to clean out all the meat from under the car 
P***k.
To the OP, I feel sorry for you, I'd be devastated in your shoes.
It's not like you can do much about it, sure it's alittle sad for the first 10 seconds, but realistically there is nothing you can do about it, so why let it get you down.
I may be cold but that's just my view.
4nonymous said:
Obvious troll was obvious ? Y So Srs anyway?
It's not like you can do much about it, sure it's alittle sad for the first 10 seconds, but realistically there is nothing you can do about it, so why let it get you down.
I may be cold but that's just my view.
You're a tIt's not like you can do much about it, sure it's alittle sad for the first 10 seconds, but realistically there is nothing you can do about it, so why let it get you down.
I may be cold but that's just my view.
t. This isn't f
king 4chan by the way.Neil_H said:
4nonymous said:
Obvious troll was obvious ? Y So Srs anyway?
It's not like you can do much about it, sure it's alittle sad for the first 10 seconds, but realistically there is nothing you can do about it, so why let it get you down.
I may be cold but that's just my view.
You're a tIt's not like you can do much about it, sure it's alittle sad for the first 10 seconds, but realistically there is nothing you can do about it, so why let it get you down.
I may be cold but that's just my view.
t. This isn't f
king 4chan by the way.What is '4chan'?
Well, if you can complete a 2 point checklist, then you can just carry on and forget about it.
[]Did you do everything possible to avoid it?
[]Did you do everything possible after the event?
If you said yes to both of them, then don't fret about it. There was nothing more you could have done, and your conscience should be clear.
[]Did you do everything possible to avoid it?
[]Did you do everything possible after the event?
If you said yes to both of them, then don't fret about it. There was nothing more you could have done, and your conscience should be clear.
Many years ago I was following a car on my bike and saw two kids with a king charles puppy, it was one of those "oh no" moments as the puppy ran onto the road (kids had it off it's lead). The driver of the car was distraught as were the kids. God know's why but I just sat on the ground talking to the puppy as it's life ebbed away as there was nothing that could be done. I drove home in a hell of a state and I did not even hit the poor thing. 

Even if it's not your fault you still go through the 'What if?' stage over and over again. In 25 years' driving I've only claimed two kills and a damaged. One kill was a myxy rabbit that was totally flattened, the damaged was a hedgehog that I clipped and left a few quills in the tyre. However the one that really got me was the cat, which ran straight under the car one night - nothing I could do - two bumps - I just hope it was a quick kill. Part of me wanted to go back and find it - but what could I have done? I did go back the next day hoping to find a body, but there was none. It really got to me. Needing some kind of closure, I made a cross out of wood, left my details on it and stuck it in the verge at the scene.
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